These Rare Cars Were Some Of Ferrari's Most Coveted
Ferrari is a coveted brand that produces some of the world's finest automotive machines. From classics like the 250 GTO to storming supercars like the Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari has built a name and reputation, so much so that people can order custom-made, one-off Ferraris built to their exact specifications by the company's "Special Projects team". Let's examine some of the finest cars built by the Special Projects division since the first one in 2008.
The Beginning Of Ferrari's "Special Projects" Team
In 2008, Ferrari sought to revive an old tradition of building heavily customized, one-off cars for existing customers who were Ferrari loyalists (unlike these scoundrels), who could pay the company rather handsomely to design a custom car. Each of these cars is a one-off and part of Ferrari's limited edition program.
2008 Ferrari SP1
Ferrari's first customer was Japanese businessman (and Ferrari collector) Junichiro Hiramatsu, who took delivery of his Ferrari Monza SP1 in early 2008. Based on the incredibly popular F430 sports car that Ferrari built between 2004 and 2009, the SP1 was powered by a 4.3L V8 engine, but borrowed much of its looks from the Ferrari Enzo, Testarossa, and the Ferrari 156 F1 car.
2008 Ferrari SP1 (Cont'd)
Built by former Pininfarina coachbuilder Leonardo Fiovaranti, the SP1 had a longer, wider hood, longer headlights than the F430, but borrowed the F430's engine that produced 483 hp and had a top speed of 196 mph. The all-leather interior was customized, with a traditional red-black exterior color scheme.
2009 Ferrari P450 Superfast Aperta
You can tell that Ferrari doesn't produce these cars every day: each "Special Projects" car can take years to complete. The next customer on Ferrari's Special Projects list was film producer Edward Walson of Sony Pictures. He was reportedly inspired by Spirits Of The Dead (1968), which featured a Ferrari 330 LMB, and asked if Ferrari could create a gold-colored convertible.
An American In Paris Producer Edward Walson Interview, Red Carpet News TV
2009 Ferrari P450 Superfast Aperta (Cont'd)
Of course, when you give a project like that to coachbuilders like Pininfarina, expect good things. They reportedly built the car within 14 months, using element analysis technology and carbon fiber to reinforce the structure of the frame, to allow for the car to become a convertible. Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, it shares that car's 6.0L V12 engine that produces 661 hp and a staggering top speed of 205 mph.
Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta, Supercars of Austria
2011 Ferrari Superamerica 45
Built with a rotating Targa top—that is, a convertible top section of a roof that features a full roll bar behind the seats— the Ferrari Superamerica 45 was a custom build for billionaire Peter Kalikow, one of New York's most famous Ferrari collectors. Inspired by the 2005 Superamerica, which Kalikow also owns, the top rotates on a horizontal axis and stows away in the trunk of the car.
Peter.orosz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2011 Ferrari Superamerica 45 (Cont'd)
Finished in a gorgeous Blu Antille color, the 45 features a chrome front grille, Blu Antille wheels, a leather and carbon fiber interior, along with a touchscreen infotainment system. Under the hood, the Superamerica 45 boasts a V12 engine that produces 661 hp and a top speed of 205 mph.
2012 Ferrari SP12 EC
This 2012 Ferrari SP12 EC is a very special Ferrari designed for the legendary English musician Eric Clapton—hence the "EC" designation on the end. Clapton is a long-time Ferrari driver, having acquired his first one, a 365 GTB-4, in 1974. However, the inspiration for this one-off came from the Ferrari 512BB. Customizations included a three-fin hood scoop in silver on a classic Ferrari matte red aluminum chassis.
2012 Ferrari SP12 EC (Cont'd)
Under the hood, the SP12 can propel Clapton to speeds of over 202 mph and produces 562 hp. Clapton is catapulted to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds by the 4.5L V8 engine. Designed in collaboration with Pininfarina, Clapton reportedly spent $5 million on the custom car.
2013 Ferrari SP30
Based on the 2006 Supercar of the Year, the Ferrari 599 (according to Top Gear), the 2013 Ferrari SP30 is the fifth car completed by the Special Projects team and was ordered by a petrochemical company owner, Cheerag Arya. He was subsequently arrested by the government of the United Arab Emirates, after fleeing the country because he owed over $540 million in taxes to the UAE. The car was then exported to the United States where it remains.
THIS IS THE $5,000,000 FERRARI YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF! THE 1 OF 1 FERRARI SP30!!!, Sinclair Photos
2013 Ferrari SP30 (Cont'd)
We're not sure whether Mr Arya got to drive his car very much, which is a real shame because this thing is, by all accounts, a beast. A racing style interior and carbon fiber ducting and bodywork allow for excellent aerodynamics. Its V12 engine produces 720 hp and has an electronically-limited top speed of 196 mph.
$3 MILLION One Off Ferrari SP30 CRAZY SOUNDS!!, TFJJ
2014 Ferrari SP FFX
2014 was turning out to be a banner year for Ferrari's Special Projects team as the first of their three cars for that year came down the assembly line. Based on the Ferrari FF, a shooting brake design of a grand tourer that succeeded the 612 Scaglietti, the FFX was customized by its owner, Japanese musician Shin Okamoto. Instead of the hatchback shooting brake design, the FFX was designed with a coupe-style rear.
I want to see you by Makoto Okamoto, HIROSHI NOMA
2014 Ferrari SP FFX (Cont'd)
The FFX's predecessor was so popular that all 800 units produced sold out within the first year. The FFX used the FF's 6.2L EB V12 engine that produced 650 hp and an incredible top speed of 208 mph. At the time of its unveiling, the SP FFX was the world's fastest four-seater car.
2014 F12 TRS
This open-top two-seater sports car is a version of the F12 Berlinetta, a front-engine rear-wheel drive grand touring car built by Ferrari between 2012 and 2017. In 2014, Ferrari devised the F12 TRS for Chinese actor Sam Li, drawing design inspiration from the 250 Testarossa, hence the TRS nameplate. Uniquely, the car has a completely redesigned front bumper with a glass panel on the hood that displays the car's engine and cylinder heads.
Michelin LIVE UK from Stoke-On-Trent, UK, Wikimedia Commons
2014 F12 TRS (Cont'd)
Although Li's TRS was decked out in all-black paint, a red TRS was spotted in November 2014 in Spain. Only two are known to exist of the 6.3L V12 Ferraris, each reaching 60 mph in an astonishing 3.1 seconds and hitting an earth-shattering top speed of 211 mph.
2014 SP America
Have you ever heard of Wegmans supermarkets? If you have, their chairman, Danny Wegman, owns this extraordinary 2014 custom-made SP America. It's based on the F12 Berlinetta and designed by Pininfarina. Featuring custom bodywork that includes a three-vent hood, reminiscent of the 250 GTO, it also has an internal rear spoiler.
Danny Wegman, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. - Ready for Work Luncheon, Youth Invest Partners
2014 SP America (Cont'd)
Like other custom Ferraris we've seen so far, much of the redesign has been cosmetic. The SP America is still powered by the F12 Berlinetta's V12 engine and features black upholstery with a red-on-black interior.
Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons
2016 Ferrari 458 MM Speciale
Based on the 458 Speciale, the successor of the hyper-popular F430, the MM Speciale (custom-built for an anonymous British customer) had some big shoes to fill. But does it ever do that, powered by a 4.5L V8 engine that produces 597HP. Though, what's "speciale" about this 458 is the interior. Its windshield has been painted to offer a racing helmet "visor-like" effect.
Matthew Lamb, Wikimedia Commons
2016 Ferrari 458 MM Speciale (Cont'd)
Under its new custom hood with more air intakes than before, the MM Speciale's V8 roars to 60 mph in just three seconds and can hit a top speed of 199 mph. The 458 Speciale is, however, more aerodynamically sound than its predecessor, achieving 1.3G of downforce.
Matthew Lamb, Wikimedia Commons
2016 Ferrari SP 275 RW Competizione
Another car in Peter Kalikow's extraordinary collection is the SP 275 RW Competizione. This track-focused Ferrari is one of the rarest in the world, having been built initially for venture capitalist Rick Workman in 2016. The SP 275 takes styling cues from the 275 GTB, including four vents positioned behind the front wheels. Also an homage to the 275 GTB is the aluminum fuel cap and yellow paint job.
2016 Ferrari SP 275 RW Competizione (Cont'd)
Under the hood, the car is all modern, with its V12 engine borrowed from the track-focused F12 TDF, with a 6.3L V12 engine that produces 769 horsepower. Its top speed is rumored to be an astonishing 211 mph, in keeping with that produced by the F12 TDF.
SPOTTED: Ferrari SP275 RW Competizione, ThisCarLife
2017 Ferrari J50
Unusually designated with a "J", the Ferrari J50 was built in 2017 to celebrate 50 years of Ferrari sales in Japan. A stunning electric blue with golden wheels, only 10 were ever built. Based on the 458 Spider, the J50 featured all-new bodywork with a lower-to-the-ground ride height to appeal to Japanese customers who sought a low-slung roadster.
Surreal Name Given, Wikimedia Commons
2017 Ferrari J50 (Cont'd)
The Targa top of the J50 folds into the trunk, but it's what sits beneath the seats that's notable: a small, 3.9L V8 engine (as in the 458 Spider) producing 690 hp with a top speed of 202 mph. All 10 of the J50s were sold shortly after their unveiling and each came with a metal plate on the inside denoting which car of the 10 it was.
Surreal Name Given, Wikimedia Commons
2018 Ferrari SP38
The 2018 SP38 Deborah is a specialized Ferrari named after the owner's first name, which was also given to the paint job that it's adorned with: a mixture of multiple shades of red. Beneath that gorgeous red paint is bodywork that's inspired by the legendary Ferrari F40 and 308. A fixed rear-wing spoiler has been added, along with narrow headlamps and a new set of wheels. The new owner, "Deborah X", took possession of the car at Ferrari's Maranello racetrack.
2018 Ferrari SP38 (Cont'd)
Although no performance figures for the SP38 are available, if it's based on the Ferrari 488, then the Deborah features a 3.9L twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 661 hp. It'll hit 60 mph in three seconds flat and has an electronically-limited top speed of 205 mph.
2018 Ferrari SP3JC
In 2018, Ferrari unveiled the SP3JC—another specialized version of the Ferrari F12 TDF—this one was prepared for a British man named John Collins, hence the "JC" initials. In fact, Mr Collins ordered two variants, one in left-hand drive, the other in right-hand drive. Both were powered by the V12 engine from the TDF, but what really caught one's attention was the exterior.
780HP Ferrari SP3JC: Accelerations & 6.3L V12 Engine Sound!, 19Bozzy92
2018 Ferrari SP3JC (Cont'd)
Each body of the SP3JC had been completely redesigned, with new front and rear bumpers, new liveries, a transparent hood vent that showed off the engine, along with taillights and wheels that were borrowed from the track-focused 812 Superfast. The Scottish customer, Collins, founded Talacrest, a Ferrari dealer in Scotland. Commissioned in 2014, the two cars took more than three years for Ferrari to complete.
780HP Ferrari SP3JC: Accelerations & 6.3L V12 Engine Sound!, 19Bozzy92
2019 Ferrari P80/C
The 2019 Ferrari P80/C was designed for Hong Kong entrepreneur TK Mak and draws upon 50 years of Ferrari history. Inspired by the Ferrari 488 GT3, a track-only car, the P80/C is also a track-only vehicle, powered by a 3.9L twin-turbo V8 that produces 580 hp and has a top speed of 220 mph.
J Harwood Images, Wikimedia Commons
2020 Ferrari Omologata
Despite the pandemic kicking everyone in the teeth, Ferrari still got to work creating a unique car in 2020. The "Omologata" is one of the world's rarest Ferraris, built for an extremely wealthy European client of the company. Its name translates to Italian for "Homologation", meaning it was built as a road-going vehicle to comply with FIA rules.
2020 Ferrari Omologata (Cont'd)
It's been adorned with the number seven on the hood and rear door panels. It's the tenth vehicle from the Special Projects team that placed the engine in the front. The V12 engine generated an astonishing 789 hp, giving the car an extraordinary top speed of 211 mph.
2021 Ferrari BR20
Built off the back of the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, a shooting-brake four-seater successor to the Ferrari FF, the BR20's bodywork was completely redesigned to give it the appearance of a fastback coupe, rather than a shooting brake style. Unlike the FF, there are no rear seats, as they were removed to accommodate the roofline.
2021 Ferrari BR20 (Cont'd)
Other key design elements are a brown leather interior with oak wood accents. Under the hood, the BR20 is powered by a 6.3L V12 engine with a top speed of 199 mph. This one-of-one car was ordered for a long-time Ferrari customer in Saudi Arabia.
Mathious Ier, Wikimedia Commons
2022 Ferrari SP48 Unica
In 2022, Ferrari unveiled another special car: the SP48 Unica. It's based on the F8 sports car, which is powered by a 3.9L V8 engine producing 710 hp, making it the most powerful V8-engined Ferrari ever released. The Unica can hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 211 mph.
Ferrari SP48 Unica (2022) | One-Off | FIRST LOOK, Exterior & Interior, Planet Car News
2022 Ferrari SP48 Unica (Cont'd)
Designed with a central column to allow for maximum airflow, the SP48 is a two-seater with space-car-like lines. Dual hood air intakes with sweeping lines that belie its heritage of the F8. Inside, the car's traction control is controlled by a dial on the steering wheel, along with another software feature that controls the Ferrari's drifting capabilities.
Ferrari SP48 Unica (2022) | One-Off | FIRST LOOK, Exterior & Interior, Planet Car News
2022 Ferrari SP51
Convertible Ferraris have been covered before on our list, but what about the car with no roof? That would be the SP51. Designed in consultation with a client in Taiwan, the SP51 is a roadster that's based on the GTS version of the 812 Superfast, a track-focused car from 2017.
2022 Ferrari SP51 One-off | Exterior, Interior, The Wheel Network
2022 Ferrari SP51 (Cont'd)
Unique to the SP51 are its near straight-on headlights, which are a very different style than Ferrari's typical headlights—hard and angular on the track-based cars to increase aerodynamics. Harkening back to Ferrari's roots, the car's paint is three layers, borrowing a blue and white livery that was inspired by 1950s racer, the 410 S, a hero of Ferrari's long-distance racing of the 1950s.
2022 Ferrari SP51 One-off | Exterior, Interior, The Wheel Network
2023 Ferrari KC23
Not many people could afford a golden car. But that's what the mysterious owner of this 2023 Ferrari KC23 did. This rare one-off of the Ferrari 488 is painted in a "Gold Mercury" color and features an upgraded chassis. It also features butterfly doors and took over three years to develop. Based on Ferrari's most successful 21st-century race car and producing 600 hp from its twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the KC23 is one of the most powerful special projects the team has ever undertaken.
2023 Ferrari SP-8
The final Ferrari car built by the Special Projects team (thus far) is the Ferrari SP-8. Based on the Ferrari F8 Spider, the mid-engined sports car that succeeded the 488, the SP-8 followed the roadster format of previous generations and lost its roof in exchange for more aerodynamics and higher performance. Interestingly, the car is painted in two colors: Sandstone Blue in the front and matte Argento Micalizatto Grey in the rear.
What's Your Favorite "Special Project" Ferrari?
Do you have a favorite "Special Project" Ferrari? Or do you prefer the old classics, like the 250 GTO, or even a classic Ferrari supercar, like the Enzo? Let us know in the comments below!
David Merrett from Daventry, England, Wikimedia Commons
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